Retention enclosure for in-line electrical plugs

Abstract

An enclosure for retaining an electrical connection between a receptacle from a first electrical cord and a plug from a second electrical cord comprises a lower shell hingedly attached to the upper shell and a latch for securing the upper and lower shells into a closed position. In a first embodiment, an inside surface of one or both of the shells may include an elongated protrusion extending into the enclosure interior space for deformably engaging lateral surfaces of the receptacle and plug, thereby creating a frictional force to resist connection separation. The enclosure may also include protrusions or sectional annuli for engaging the first and second cords for resisting cord movement during the application of tensile loads on the electrical connection. Finally, the enclosure may also include a sheath fixed to the receptacle or plug. The sheath includes a retractable protrusion for releasably engaging a crenelated portion on an side surface of the enclosure to secure on portion of the connection, and at least one gripping protrusion engages one of the electrical cords to secure the entire connection within the enclosure.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An enclosure for releasably retaining and enclosing a connection between a plug attached to a first electrical cord and a receptacle attached to a second electrical cord said enclosure comprising: a lower shell having an inside surface;   an upper shell including an inside surface, and means for matingly engaging said upper shell to said lower shell to form a closed enclosure having an interior space configured to surround the connection;   a hinge connecting said upper and lower shells, and adequate to allow said upper and lower shells to rotate into open and closed positions with respect to one another;   a latch adapter to releasably fasten said upper shell to said lower shell; and   a resilient engagement means formed on an inside surface of one of said upper and lower shell, said resilient engagement means formed as an integral, unitary piece with one of said upper and lower shells, said engagement means adapted to deformably engage first lateral surface of said plug and receptacle when the latch fastens the upper and lower shells into a closed position, whereby a frictional force created between the lateral plug and receptacle surfaces and the engagement means resists separation of the plug and receptacle when the first and second cords are in tension.   
     
     
       2. The enclosure of claim 1 wherein said engagement means includes a protrusion extending from an inside surface of one of said lower and upper shells into said interior enclosure space for deformably engaging first lateral surfaces of the plug and receptacle. 
     
     
       3. The enclosure of claim 2, wherein said protrusion is elongated and runs substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of said enclosure. 
     
     
       4. The enclosure of claim 3, wherein said protrusion extends upwardly from said lower shell into the enclosure interior space. 
     
     
       5. The enclosure of claim 3, wherein said protrusion extends downwardly from said upper shell into the enclosure interior space. 
     
     
       6. The enclosure of claim 4 further including: a second elongated protrusion extending downwardly from the upper shell into the enclosure interior space for deformably engaging second lateral surfaces of the plug and receptacle opposite the first lateral surfaces when said latch fastens said upper and lower shells into a closed position, such that a frictional force created between the lateral plug and receptacle surfaces and the first and second protrusions resists separation of the plug and receptacle when the first and second cords are in tension.   
     
     
       7. The enclosure of claim 1 wherein said enclosure includes: first and second ends;   first and second apertures formed at said first and second ends, respectively, for allowing the first and second cords to pass through said first and second ends into the enclosure interior space, respectively; and deformable, resilient gripping means formed near said first enclosure end for deformably engaging the first cord, such that frictional forces created between the gripping means and the first cord resists relative movement between the first cord and said enclosure.   
     
     
       8. The enclosure of claim 7 wherein said enclosure includes: said gripping means formed near said second enclosure end.   
     
     
       9. The enclosure of claim 7 wherein said enclosure includes: said gripping means formed on said upper shell inside surface.   
     
     
       10. The enclosure of claim 7 wherein said enclosure includes: said gripping means formed on said lower shell inside surface.   
     
     
       11. The enclosure of claim 7 wherein said enclosure includes: said gripping means formed on said upper and lower shell inside surfaces.   
     
     
       12. The enclosure of claim 7 wherein said enclosure wherein: said gripping means is formed unitarily with the enclosure.   
     
     
       13. The enclosure of claim 7 wherein said gripping means further comprise: a plurality of gripping protrusions projecting from an interior surface of one of said upper and lower shell surfaces into said enclosure interior space.   
     
     
       14. The enclosure of claim 13 wherein said gripping protrusions comprise sectional annuli having interior edge portions for engaging one of said first and second cords. 
     
     
       15. The enclosure of claim 14 wherein said interior edge portions are substantially arcuate. 
     
     
       16. The enclosure of claim 15 wherein said interior arcuate edge portions include centers of curvature, and wherein at least one center of curvature of one arcuate edge of one sectional annulus is offset with respect to a center of curvature of an arcuate edge of an adjacent sectional annulus. 
     
     
       17. The enclosure of claim 15 wherein said arcuate edge portions include centers of curvature, and wherein said centers of curvature are non-collinear. 
     
     
       18. The enclosure of claim 1, wherein: said upper and lower shells form a single, unitary piece; and   said hinge is a living hinge integrally formed as a unitary piece with said upper and lower shells.   
     
     
       19. The enclosure of claim 1 wherein said enclosure is ellipsoid-shaped. 
     
     
       20. An enclosure for releasably retaining and enclosing a connection between a plug attached to a first electrical cord and a receptacle attached to a second electrical cord, said enclosure comprising: a lower shell including an inside surface, and an upper shell having an inside surface, said upper shell including means for matingly engaging said lower shell to form a closed enclosure having an interior space configured around the connection;   means for hingedly connecting said upper and lower shell, and adapted to allow said upper and lower shells to rotate into open and closed positions with respect to one another;   a latch adapted to releasably fasten said upper shell to said lower shell;   a first aperture formed at a first end of said enclosure, and a second aperture formed at a second end of said enclosure, for allowing the first and second cords to pass through said first and second ends of said enclosure, respectively; and   least a pair of resilient, gripping protrusions wherein one protrusion is laterally offset from the other for defining a cord channel, said protrusions carried within said interior space of said enclosure near said first aperture, said protrusions being substantially flat and angled toward the center of said enclosure, whereby frictional forces created between said pairs of gripping protrusions and the first cord resists relative movement between the first cord and said enclosure.   
     
     
       21. The enclosure of claim 20 wherein said enclosure includes: a second pair of resilient gripping protrusions wherein one protrusion is laterally offset from the other for defining an extension of said cord channel for receiving said second cord, said second pair of protrusions carried within said interior space of said enclosure near said second aperture, said second pair of protrusions being substantially flat and angled toward the center of said enclosure, whereby frictional forces created between said pairs of gripping protrusions and either of said first or second cord resists relative movement between a respective of either said first or second cord and said enclosure.   
     
     
       22. The enclosure of claim 20 wherein said enclosure includes: said gripping means formed on said upper shell.   
     
     
       23. The enclosure of claim 20 wherein said enclosure includes: said gripping means formed on said lower shell.   
     
     
       24. The enclosure of claim 20 wherein said enclosure includes: said gripping means formed on upper and lower shells.   
     
     
       25. The enclosure of claim 20 wherein said enclosure includes: said gripping means formed unitarily with the enclosure.   
     
     
       26. The enclosure of claim 20 wherein said gripping means further comprise: a plurality of gripping protrusions projecting from an interior surface of one of said upper and lower shells into said enclosure interior space.   
     
     
       27. The enclosure of claim 20 wherein said gripping protrusions comprise sectional annuli having an interior edge portions for engaging the first cord. 
     
     
       28. The enclosure of claim 27 wherein said interior edge portions are substantially arcuate. 
     
     
       29. The enclosure of claim 28 wherein said interior arcuate edge portions include centers of curvature, and wherein at least one center of curvature of one arcuate edge of one sectional annulus is offset with respect to a center of curvature of an arcuate edge of an adjacent sectional annulus. 
     
     
       30. The enclosure of claim 28 wherein said arcuate edge portions include centers of curvature, and wherein said centers of curvature are non-collinear. 
     
     
       31. The enclosure of claim 20 wherein said enclosure is ellipsoid-shaped. 
     
     
       32. The enclosure of claim 19, wherein: said upper and lower shells form a single, unitary piece; and   said hinge is a living hinge integrally formed as a unitary piece with said upper and lower shells.   
     
     
       33. An enclosure for releasably retaining and enclosing a connection between a plug attached to a first electrical cord and a receptacle attached to a second electrical cord comprising: a lower shell having an inside surface;   an upper shell including an inside surface, and means for matingly engaging said upper shell to said lower shell to form a closed enclosure having an interior space configured around the connection, said lower shell inside surface further including a crenelated portion;   a hinge for connecting said upper and lower shells, and adapted to allow said upper and lower shells to rotate into open and closed positions with respect to one another;   a latch adapted to releasably fasten said upper shell to said lower shell; and   a sheath for receiving a portion of the connection between the first and second cords, wherein said sheath is adapted to fit within said lower shell and further includes a clam for clamping said first cord to said sheath, and a retractable protrusion for engaging said crenelated portion of said shell and for securing the connection within the enclosure.     
     
     
       34. The enclosure of claim 33 further including: means for engaging the first cord and for securing the cord within the enclosure.   
     
     
       35. The enclosure of claim 33, wherein: said enclosure is ellipsoid shaped.   
     
     
       36. The enclosure of claim 20 including a second pair of resilient, gripping protrusions disposed offset behind said first pair of protrusions, said second pair of protrusions being substantially flat and angled toward the center of said enclosure for further providing resistant frictional force on said first cord for maintaining the interconnection between said first and second cord.